Despite an order by the Department of Health’s Environmental Services deeming the LBJ Cafeteria unsafe last month; the cafeteria is understood to remain open.
KHJ News ran a story last Friday that said LBJ’s cafeteria was closed due to the kitchen’s exposure to nuisances; specifically rats. Claw marks and droppings had been noted by health inspectors in the cafeteria.
Prior to airing the story, KHJ News sought comment from the LBJ officials about the cafeteria’s closure due to non-compliance with a public health requirements for prevention and control of public nuisances.
KHJ News told the receptionist who answered the phone the nature of our call and we called ahead of airing the story two times but never received any comment from LBJ officials.
Since then, Moefa’auo William Emmsley, LBJ CEO issued a statement that was aired on government owned KVZK-TV that the report was ‘inaccurate and misleading’.
The story headline that was aired on KVZK quoted Moefaauo saying, “with the new leadership team a more comprehensive plan with an acute strategic approach in place for immediate mitigation efforts in multiple areas but not limited to radiology. ER, Cafeteria and action plans with deadlines to address these challenges, these remedies will require time and enormous financial resources”
Sources tell KHJ News that the plan is to build a temporary cafeteria while the current cafeteria is renovated to enhance health standards as prescribed by the DOH report. However, the cafeteria remains open.
Listeners have asked the question, why is it that a government building which is violating DOH Environmental guidelines is allowed to open, but a business, like a restaurant for example must close?
DOH’s Aileen Solaita said that this call ultimately rests with the head of the agency that DOH found non-compliant, in this case with the hospital, it is up to the CEO to address the issues, said Solaita.
Similar concerns have been raised about why does DOH post closed businesses on Facebook, but not the EOB, which is known to have had a rat problem for years. Solaita said that by doing so, people who go to the Executive Office building for essential services like getting tax refunds, making payments to Treasury or renewing immigration IDS, would have these processes severely disrupted.
